Eddie Sanchez: We're going to stand on our feet and bang

The 26-year-old may not be at the top of the heavyweight ladder. But as Sanchez recently told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com), he knows what it takes to make it in the UFC.

“I always feel every fight is a must-win situation for me, especially being in the top fighting organization in the world,” Sanchez said.” Either you’ve got to be well-liked by the fans, you’ve got to put on a superb show, or you’ve got to win and put on a superb show.”

In Sanchez’s 10 career fights, none have lasted the full 15 minutes. In fact only one — a UFC 79 brawl with Soa Palelei — has even made into the third round. Sanchez said his wild-swinging, brawling style wasn’t developed by accident.

“I’m comfortable wherever [the fight] goes,” Sanzhez said. “But you’ve seen my fights. I like to give the crowd what they’re looking for. I like to definitely showcase my knockout power. And in this fight we’re going to wherever it goes, but we’re mainly going to stand on our feet and bang.”

“This fight” refers to Sanchez’s Wednesday night bout with Justin McCully at “UFC Fight Night 16: UFC Fights for the Troops.” While it will be Sanchez’s sixth fight for the UFC, he admits the excitement is still just as great as it was for his debut with the organization in 2006.

“I get fired up every time I get in the cage,” Sanchez said. “If you’re not nervous there’s probably something wrong. But it’s always good nerves that come along with stepping into the octagon.”

Sanchez has earned knockout or TKO victories over Palelei, Colin Robinson and Mario Neto. But the North County Fight Club product has faltered when he has stepped up a level in bouts with Antoni Hardonk and Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic.

Sanchez understands his position in the UFC’s heavyweight division, and he knows the importance of putting on an entertaining bout.

“I fight because I love it,” Sanchez said. “It’s the best entertainment in the world. Sometimes it gets to me (that I’m not considered among the title contenders), but then I think, ‘I’m so young. I haven’t been in this sport that long. I still have a long way to go. I’ve made a name for myself as it is.’

“But to have [my name] out there on the marquee in lights? As long as I’m fighting in the UFC, the top league, that’s all I care about. When I heard this fight was going to be a dark match, I kind of shrugged my shoulders and I said, ‘You know what? That’s fine. I have to work even harder for it to be shown on TV. In this fight I’ll get a good knockout and they’ll have to show it, for sure.’ They end up playing my fights all the time.”

With the UFC willing to release fighters after even single defeats — and Sanchez coming off of a UFC 85 loss to Hardonk — the heavyweight brawler knows a second-straight defeat could force him out of the organization. But Sanchez insists he has what it takes to remain in the UFC.

“There’s always pressure on that side of the stage,” Sanzhez said. “But I believe in myself. My heart’s the biggest thing I have besides my right hand. That takes me all the way.

“I have a lot of confidence. In all fights I lose I learn sometimes more than in fights I win. I can’t wait to fight.”

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